MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies

Arts and cultural activities are a key ingredient of public diplomacy and the exercise of soft power in international relations. There is a growing range of international cultural activities by different countries around the world toward diplomatic, economic, social, and artistic purposes. Operationalising international cultural activities is a complex and challenging process that involves many stakeholders, including individuals, organisations, and governments. The activities can also take a variety of forms, from educational and cultural exchanges to exhibitions, and from cultural trade to international festivals. This course is designed to introduce you to the concepts, histories, debates, and practices of international cultural relations. At the transnational level, we will discuss the role of international organisations such as UNESCO in facilitating international cultural communication and collaboration. At the state level, we will critically analyse the purposes and the practices of nation-states and how their international cultural practices have changed over time in response to changing environments. We will examine a range of cases from different countries, such as international culture centres and the Olympics, and analyse the convergence and divergence in these practices. At the organisational level, we will discuss and compare the governance of international cultural programmes, and we will work with arts organisations to understand how international arts/cultural programmes are designed and operationalised in specific contexts. Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to develop your interest in discussion, group project, and essay assignment. This course will equip you with theoretical and methodological tools through lectures, seminars, guest talks, and consultation. On successful completion of this course, you will be able to understand, communicate, and address the issues in international cultural relations from multiple perspectives as policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.

• To understand the role of arts and culture in the international cultural relations
• To investigate the history of using arts and culture as a multi-purpose tool in international relations
• To familiarise with the tools of international cultural relations and understand how tools can be adapted and used differently in various contexts
• To analyse how different stakeholders contribute to international cultural activities and how their interests and behaviour are shaped in this process
• To identify the convergence and divergence of practices in international cultural relations
• To contribute to the design of international cultural programmes in arts organisations

Weekly Topics:  

Week 1: Arts, Culture, and Power

Week 2: Key Concepts, Definitions and History of International Cultural Relations

Week 3: Multi-purposes and Tools of International Cultural Relations

Week 4: Educational and Cultural Exchanges

Week 5: UNESCO and Transnational Organisations

Week 6: Cultural Diplomacy and the Olympics

Week 7: Essay Surgeries  

Week 8: Place Branding, National Branding, and National Image

Week 9: Top-down Versus Bottom-up Cultural Diplomacy

Week 10: Group Project

Week 11: Group Project  

Week 12: Group Project Presentations 

• Lecture (15/30 credits)
• Seminar discussion (15/30 credits)
• Presentation (15/30 credits)
• Individual research (15/30 credits)
• Group research project (30 credits)
• Guest talk and workshop (15/30 credits)

Students will be assessed by means of a combination of individual assignment and group project. In addition to the two graded assignments, students will have the opportunity to apply the concepts and theories through non-graded scaffolding assignments from week to week.  

• Understand the complexity and ambiguity of the international power dynamic and the role of arts and culture in it
• Use cultural diplomacy programmes as a lens to observe social, economic, and cultural differences among countries.
• Understand and interpret international cultural relations in both historical and contemporary contexts
• Identify and analyse the common and conflictual interests of governments, organisations, and individuals in international cultural relations 

• Integrate and apply the knowledge of cultural policy, arts management, and other related disciplines to analyse the issues in international cultural relations
• Articulate research questions, select appropriate methods, collect and analyse data, and report results in independent and group research projects
• Debate and critically analyse the use of arts and culture in international relationship building and capacity building activities 

• Design an international cultural programme by considering the interests of stakeholders and selecting appropriate tools for specific audience and context (30 credits version).  
• Communicate and collaborate with partners (local and international) in a multi-cultural working environment
• Articulate and visualise ideas through written materials and presentation
• Acquire the ability to research independently and collaboratively
• Locate, retrieve, and verify data from different sources
• Coordinate with team members to deliver an effective presentation
• Develop project management and analytical skills that can be applied in various scenarios
• Innovate as well as learn from the past and from others to address new challenges 

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Dinnie, K. (2015). Nation branding: Concepts, issues, practice: Routledge.

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Garcia, B. (2008). One hundred years of cultural programming within the Olympic Games (1912–2012): origins, evolution and projections. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 14(4), 361-376.  

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Hamnett, C., & Shoval, N. (2003). Museums as flagships of urban development. Cities and visitors: Regulating people, markets, and city space, 219-236.  

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